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Cranston Fire cuts off power and access to well water. Thousands of bottles of water the new norm

Over 240,000 bottles of water had been distributed by Tuesday to mountain residents surrounding the community of Anza who have been cut off from their water source by the Cranston Fire miles away.

The fire, which was ignited last week and so far destroyed over 13,100 acres, cut off power to the Anza Electric Cooperative, leaving about 5,000 customers in the lurch. Most are now connected to truck-size generators around the clock, but about 1,500 utility customers have generator power only a handful of hours each day.

Residents of communities around Anza all rely on wells, and when the power is out, they lose their ability to pump water. With no well water, these residents have been supplied with bottled water through a nonprofit operating in the community hall.

Since the fires broke out, Bill and Noel Donahue, who run the nonprofit, said they’ve seen about 1,500 people a day come through in need of supplies -- especially water.

Carson Bolton, 9, who has helped along with other volunteers at the Anza Community Center, takes a nap on top of donations. (Photo: Omar Ornelas,/The Desert Sun-USA TODAY NETWORK)

Bill Donahue, of the unincorporated area of Sage, estimated he and other volunteers had given out more than 10,000 cases of water in the past week, each with 24 bottles of water.

“Once you lose your well, all the help is usually in Hemet or down in the desert,” he said. “The need here is phenomenal. You don’t think how important it is until you don’t have it. But when you don’t have water in these heat conditions, it’s critical.”

He said he and his wife became involved in the community seven years ago and formed their nonprofit, which feeds 70 to 100 families a week “when there is power.”

Residents of Anza get needed supplies at the Anza Community Center after lack of electricity has taken a toll on the community. (Photo: Omar Ornelas/The Desert Sun-USA TODAY NETWORK)

The Cranston Fire erupted July 25 off Highway 74, and so far destroyed seven buildings before slowing down over the weekend. Three firefighters suffered minor injuries. Authorities on Wednesday morning said the fire was 89 percent contained and many of the first responders were being sent to other areas of the state as a mop-up of the area continued.

Temecula resident Brandon McGlover, 32, is charged with starting the Cranston Fire, along with nine others in the Idyllwild, Anza and Sage areas. He pleaded not guilty to the charges on Friday.

The Anza-area outage began last week after the fire damaged about two miles of Southern California Edison transmission lines near the blaze's point of origin.

The Ribbon Fire in the Pinyon Pines area has been 100 percent contained after scarring 205 acres.

Robert Deville and Paige Tyley look out at the Deville family's horses after they were brought back to Garner Valley, July 29, 2018. Garner Valley was evacuated on Friday as the Cranston Fire threatened the area. Zoe Meyers/The Desert Sun

Kyle Stephens and Carra Mathewsod with Riverside County Animal Services bring food for a cat at the request of the home owner who was evacuated because of the Cranston Fire. Photo taken on Saturday, July 28, 2018 near Idyllwild. Richard Lui/The Desert Sun

Kyle Stephens and Carra Mathewsod with Riverside County Animal Services bring food for pets at the request of the home owner who was evacuated because of the Cranston Fire. Photo taken on Saturday, July 28, 2018 in Idyllwild. Richard Lui/The Desert Sun

Kyle Stephens and Carra Mathewsod with Riverside County Animal Services bring food for pets at the request of the home owner who was evacuated because of the Cranston Fire. Photo taken on Saturday, July 28, 2018 in Idyllwild. Richard Lui/The Desert Sun

Kyle Stephens and Carra Mathewsod with Riverside County Animal Services feed chickens and a turkey on a property near McCall Park Rd. Animal services are caring a number animal who's owners have evacuate due to the Cranston Fire. Photo taken on Saturday, July 28, 2018. Richard Lui/The Desert Sun

Kyle Stephens and Carra Mathewsod with Riverside County Animal Services feed chickens and a turkey on a property near McCall Park Rd. Animal services are caring a number animal who's owners have evacuate due to the Cranston Fire. Photo taken on Saturday, July 28, 2018. Richard Lui/The Desert Sun

Riverside County Animal Services feed chickens and a turkey on a property near McCall Park Rd. Animal services are caring a number animal who's owners have evacuate due to the Cranston Fire. Photo taken on Saturday, July 28, 2018. Richard Lui/The Desert Sun

Ryan Long, the interim shelter manager at the San Jacinto Valley Animal Campus plays with a evacuated dog from the Cranston Fire on Thursday, July 26, 2018 in San Jacinto. The shelter has received 15 cats and 26 dogs from the fire according to Long. Some were brought in by their owners and some by emergency responders. Richard Lui/The Desert Sun

A cat evacuated from the Cranston Fire at the San Jacinto Valley Animal Campus on Thursday, July 26, 2018 in San Jacinto. The shelter has received 15 cats and 26 dogs from the fire according to Ryan Long, the interim shelter manager at the shelter. Some were brought in by their owners and some by emergency responders. Richard Lui/The Desert Sun